Real Estate Certifications

Category: General

Buyers love bathrooms that remind them of luxury hotels or soothing spas. And, most important, buyers want to envision themselves enjoying this luxury every day in their new home.

However, the reality is that most of us do not have the perfect bathroom. And we know that, in most instances, it is not a wise investment to do a full, costly renovation just for a home sale. It simply doesn’t translate into profit.

A better strategy is to maximize what you already have, on a budget. You want to transform your real-life, everyday bathroom that prospective buyers will love, without spending too much money. Here are simple ways to create great bathrooms.

Clear off the counters. Remove all of your everyday toiletries and bathroom supplies. Buyers do not want to see your personal hygiene products. In fact, this can make them feel as though they are intruding on your personal space, which can be distracting and a little awkward.

Get rid of cleaning products. Remove all items that imply housework and maintenance, such as toilet brushes, wastepaper baskets, sponges, cleaning products, bath mats; even the spare toilet paper rolls need to be moved, and put away. While, yes, these items are a necessary part of everyday living, they do not create a beautiful spa-like experience for your buyers. It may be a nuisance to move them frequently, but it will make all the difference to the buyers.

Maximize your storage. Storage space sells. Your buyers will be looking inside your bathroom cupboards to see how much space they offer. Make sure they are only half to two-thirds full and well organized. Store the little things you use every day in a pretty box.

Make minor upgrades. Rather than spending many thousands completely renovating your bathroom, it’s much smarter to spend your money only where it will show and to make small, inexpensive upgrades that will create a large impact. As a general rule, improvements that can’t easily be seen don’t translate into a higher sale price.

The bathroom upgrades that will yield you the best return include repainting the walls, replacing leaking and worn taps, updating the cabinet hardware, installing new light fittings and updating towel bars. See: Bathroom Fixtures & Lighting at the Home Depot.

Clean thoroughly. Clean everything to within an inch of its life. No, it’s certainly not exciting, but it’s super important. Buyers will pay a premium for new, so your aim is to create a new feel. Everything must be immaculate, as this creates the impression that your home has been well maintained and well loved.

Hang luxurious towels. Any bathroom can be instantly transformed by adding beautiful, soft towels. New is best (once towels have been washed, they never look quite the same). So it’s a great idea to keep your new towels just for display only. Pack them away between buyer inspections and reinstate them just before the prospective buyers arrive.

Use flowers for impact. Fresh flowers and plants make any space come alive, and the bathroom is no exception. They make a dramatic impact, adding instant color and texture. Orchids are always a favorite in bathrooms; however, here’s no need to always buy huge bouquets. In a smaller room, a single stem of your favorite bloom, a small planter or even a branch with beautiful leaves placed in a jar will look understated and elegant. For further reading on this subject, check out this article on: Staging Bathroom Home Design Ideas, Pictures & Remodel.

For potential buyers, the kitchen is the room that can make or break the sale. An upgraded, attractive kitchen can make or break the sale, as well as determine how much money you’ll make on the house. Ideally, your kitchen renovation should earn a 70% return on investment when you sell your home. Read: The Dos and Don’ts of Remodeling. But this depends on the features you choose, how much you spend remodeling and whether your priority is to create a dream kitchen for yourself or a kitchen that will appeal to potential buyers.

Remodeling for resale means choosing materials that appeal to everyone, rather than choosing a particular style, especially when it is remodeled in your taste. It has to appeal to the buyer, not the seller. This means opting for stainless steel appliances that are high quality rather than professional-grade models. Spend on functional features like pantry drawers, cabinet drawers and and doors. Again, don’t over-personalize the space. The biggest mistake homeowners make is spending more on the remodeling project than their home value can support. Don’t expect to get optimum return on a $70,000 kitchen if the home is valued at $320,000.

The wrong appliances for the area can bring down the perceived value of your kitchen and property. You must set priorities based on what sells a kitchen. Keep in mind cost of every project. Even if cabinets are outdated, is it worth the cost to replace them, or will changing out the hardware refresh the look enough to give the kitchen an updated appearance?

No matter what changes you make in your kitchen with resale in mind, never compromise the architecture of your home. When you sell your home, buyers fall in love with the exterior of the home first. If someone really likes your traditional home and you put in a contemporary kitchen, you are setting yourself up for such a small number of buyers who are willing to live in a traditional exterior home and who will be happy with a very contemporary kitchen.

Find out what attracts buyers. Research what is being marketed by the real estate professionals in your area and buy those. Sometimes, it is simply a color that is important, and sometimes it is a certain brand name.

Keep the style and color scheme simple. Think neutral for countertops, cabinets, floors, back splashes and appliances. Go natural and subdued. Choose surfaces and fixtures that blend with many styles. Avoid extremes. Don’t cheap out, but avoid the highest end items and features.

Open up the space. If you have a larger budget for your kitchen renovation and your floor plan is one that doesn’t allow the kitchen to open to other spaces in the home, it could be worth your while to knock out some walls.

Add some “wow” factors. Convenience items impress homebuyers. Go for extra drawers, a pull-out pantry, stone or stone composite countertops. Lighting, such as under-cabinet fixtures, will add ambiance and show off materials in the kitchen.

Go for granite. No matter the price range of your home, buyers want to see granite countertops. There’s no need to go for the most obscure, high-end slab. To the buyer, granite is granite. The tier of granite is not important. For further reading, see: Which Home Remodeling Projects Are Worth Your Money?

If you want to sell your house, one of the best things you can do is to clean up clutter, and go for some DIY projects. It is no secret that the front porch and walkway give buyers their first impression of your home. You should add fresh paint your front door in a focal point color. Try these tips as well

Try replacing the front door knocker, knob and other worn hardware. Consider setting up a welcoming bench or all-weather chair where visitors can gather to discuss your house. It can also never hurt to use seasonal decorations. Your goal is to help buyers envision their lives in your house, and it is sure to evoke potential memories.

Exterior

•If you can, create an outside focal point to draw buyers’ attention to landscaping, such as planting very colorful flowers.
•Make sure sidewalks are free of clutter and trash.
•Fix fences and gates.
•Keep gardens tidy and the lawn mowed.

Declutter and Clean

Decluttering can be scary; you’re going through piles and piles of things that you never “got around to” sorting out, and now, you must do it all at one time. Here are some tips for decluttering room by room:

Kitchen

•Clear counters of small appliances.
•Pack rarely used appliances (crockpots, fondue pots, toasters), tools and pans.
•Pot racks, utensils hanging on walls and other open kitchen storage can be unsightly and even dangerous, if people are in danger of hitting their heads or brushing up against sharp gear. Take it all down and swap in plain wallboard.
•Pack away rarely used staples and gear like seasonal cookie cutters, extra aprons, and unusual spices to air out pantries, drawers and cabinets. People need to envision their own stuff in the storage spaces. See: Declutter That House to Sell It Faster.
•Remove evidence of problems, such as ant powder, from closets.

Bathrooms

•Find a different or temporary home for jewelry, perfume, and rarely used toiletries.
•Pack or toss all but three changes of linens to create an airy look in your closets.
•Refresh shelf and drawer liners.
•Remove evidence of mothballs.
•Clean and repair grout.

Bedrooms

Be sure to pack out-of-season clothes and linens and store off-site. Choose a pretty, light set of linens for each bed, with decorative pillows, and pack away family photos.

Living, Dining & Family Rooms

•Clear out stacks of magazines and hobby materials. Stacks, even if neat and straight, add weight and visual clutter to rooms.
•Clean the window treatments and the windows. If your window treatments involve numerous layers, consider leaving only the decorative layer.
•If your walls are covered with attention-grabbing artwork, shrink your arrangement to a tasteful few.
•Examine walls and woodwork for dirt and chips.
•Choose only a few pillows for accents.
•Make sure you have a safe, consistent landing spot for TV and sound system remotes, far from the hands of children.
•Limit the number of toys kept in any room, and create a place where the remaining toys can quickly be collected, such as a large basket.